Governor Siminalayi Fubara Vows to Continue Rivers LG Election Amidst Protests

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on Thursday, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to hold the scheduled local government election on Saturday, October 5, despite significant opposition from allies of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Governor Fubara made it clear during a stakeholders’ meeting that any attempts to disrupt the election would not be tolerated, stressing that maintaining stability and order in the state was his priority.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara expressed frustration over the resistance, noting that the state must comply with a Supreme Court ruling that mandated elected officials to manage local governments. He also pointed out that other states in Nigeria had successfully held local government elections using the 2023 voter register without facing such controversies, wondering why Rivers State seemed to be an exception. According to the governor, the election must proceed to meet legal requirements, even though his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was not participating.

Legal Challenges and Opposition from Wike’s Loyalists

The political landscape in Rivers State has been tense, with members of the PDP loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Chief Tony Okocha, withdrawing from the election. They have cited irregularities and a lack of due process from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). This faction has taken legal action, resulting in a Federal High Court injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register for the election.

Security concerns have also emerged, as the court order restrains police and other security agencies from providing protection for the election. Despite these legal hurdles, the RSIEC remains determined to move forward with the election, claiming to have access to the necessary voter register. Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s stance has added fuel to the already heated political environment, as the division within the state’s political elites continues to deepen.

Massive Protests by PDP and Wike Loyalists

Earlier on Thursday, thousands of supporters and prominent PDP politicians led by the Rivers State Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, took to the streets of Port Harcourt in protest against the planned election. The protestors, including current and former National Assembly members and immediate-past local government chairmen, were all loyalists of Nyesom Wike. Among the key figures present were Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kingsley Chinda and other lawmakers.

The protesters, undeterred by heavy rainfall, marched from the PDP secretariat to the Department of State Services (DSS) office and later to the state police command headquarters. They carried placards with messages such as “RSIEC, obey court order” and “Rivers State is not lawless.” Their march aimed to remind law enforcement agencies of the court judgment prohibiting the conduct of the election and to demand that the police and other security agencies refrain from supporting RSIEC in violation of the court order.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Critics Intensify Pressure Against LG Election

In addition to the protests, lawmakers loyal to Wike in the Rivers State House of Assembly have spoken out against the planned local government election. Led by Martin Amaewhule, the faction of the Assembly issued warnings to RSIEC, cautioning it against proceeding with the poll in defiance of the court’s ruling. This opposition reflects the deep political divisions between Wike’s loyalists and Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.

The protest movement, backed by influential political figures, highlights the serious dissatisfaction with the planned election. The PDP, which officially withdrew from the election, has threatened to take further action if RSIEC goes ahead with the poll, fearing it could lead to a crisis in the state. Despite this, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has maintained his firm stance, urging registered voters and political leaders to turn out on election day, asserting that the process will continue as scheduled, no matter the resistance from detractors.